After Attacks, France Increases Commitment To Refugees

A refugee screams for help after she and her daughter fell into the water after arriving on a dinghy from the Turkish coast to the northeastern Greek island of Lesbos, Friday, Oct. 2 , 2015. The International Organization for Migration says a record number of people have crossed the Mediterranean into Europe this year. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

French President Francois Hollande promised to honor his commitment to take in tens of thousands of refugees on Wednesday. He said France would do so despite concerns raised by ultra-right nationalist leaders that refugees might pose a security threat to the country.

“Some people say the tragic events of the last few days have sown doubts in their minds,” Hollande said, but added that it is a “humanitarian duty” to help the throngs of refugees who have landed on European shores after fleeing conflict and hardship in countries like Syria and Afghanistan.

In a speech to mayors from around France, Hollande said France would welcome 30,000 refugees over the next two years. That’s even more than the 24,000 he committed to accepting in September.

Hollande said that he would invest about $53.3 million to develop housing for refugees.

He added that that refugees will undergo thorough security checks before entering the country before addressing calls from the country’s largest opposition parties, the ultra-right Front National.

Acknowledging fears among many in France after 129 were killed in gun and bomb attacks on Friday, Hollande said, “[It is] our duty to protect our people.”

His decision sends a strong message to European countries like Poland which have been less willing to take in refugees and to the growing number of American governors who are attempting to block refugee resettlement in their home states.

The fear that ISIS fighters might pose as refugees to carry out attacks in Europe or the U.S. were stoked by a Syrian passport was found near the body of one of the men involved in the Paris attacks. Greek and Serbian authorities said that it was issued to a Syrian man who registered as a refugee on the Greek island of Leros in October, and later applied for asylum in Serbia.

Many immigration experts and political leaders, however, have cast doubt on the connection between the attackers and the passports. They’ve noted that such humanitarian measures undermine ISIS’ argument that the West is at odds with Muslims.

On Thursday, Thomas de Maiziere, the interior minister of Germany, said that ISIS militants might have planted the passport at the scene of carnage at the Stade de France soccer stadium to implicate refugees and “make people feel unsafe” near them.

“There are indications that this was a planted lead, but it still can’t be ruled out that this was indeed an ISIS terrorist posing as a refugee,” he told reporters in Berlin on Tuesday.

Like no loud, insidious Popups or video ads in your news?

No Popups! Real News by award-winning journalists about some of the nation's most important issues. Keep us going by sending some coffee money, with sugar, please. Thank you for supporting BBSNews!

Subscribe to BBSN breaking news

Leave Blank:Do Not Change:

Your email:

International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers

The International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers represents a diverse mixture of women and prayer. Each Grandmother, a Leader in her community, having devoted their long lifetimes to prayer and action. Sharing a dinner with a visiting Grandmother was very nice. Click the icon and visit them.

Thank you for reading BBSNews! We offer an alternative view and firmly believe that a fair and just peace in Palestine under the rule of law will alleviate a whole host of problems in the region and across the planet.

BBSNews uses cookies here on the Web site to improve your experience, personalise content and ads, and to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. AcceptRead More